Calming caused congestion

Published:06:12Sunday 07 December 2014

It was interesting, although not particularly surprising, to hear that the centre of Warwick is now suffering from traffic congestion. I don’t suppose that would be anything to do with the council’s pointless and expensive (if it ain’t broke don’t fix it) “traffic calming” measures would it?

Having lived in the town for more than 30 years, I can’t actually recall the need to calm traffic down passing through the centre of Warwick (partly because of the presence of two pedestrian crossings - where we now only have one). All the narrowing of this major artery has done, along with parking all along one side and the introduction of humps and bumps and the mysterious ‘chicanes’, is to make it more difficult for vans, lorries and coaches travelling in opposite directions to pass each other.

The inevitable result of this is, of course - you’ve guessed it - congestion where no such problem existed previously, except, apparently, in the imagination of our local council.